Volunteer Training (afternoon session)

Volunteer Training
1:00-2:00 pm or 5:00-6:00 pm
Environmental Learning Center

If you would like to join our volunteer team or renew your volunteer status, come to our fun one-hour training at the Environmental Learning Center. Please sign up for one of two sessions by scanning the QR code at the top of the page, contacting our office at (641)673-9327, or emailing decook@mahakacountyia.gov. Volunteers are asked to attend a training once every three years.

Please sign up using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

Volunteer Training (afternoon session)

Volunteer Training
1:00-2:00 pm or 5:00-6:00 pm
Environmental Learning Center

If you would like to join our volunteer team or renew your volunteer status, come to our fun one-hour training at the Environmental Learning Center. Please sign up for one of two sessions by scanning the QR code at the top of the page, contacting our office at (641)673-9327, or emailing decook@mahakacountyia.gov. Volunteers are asked to attend a training once every three years.

Please sign up using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

Knee High Naturalists "Nature Show & Tell"

Knee-High Naturalists “Nature Show & Tell”
10:00-11:00 am
Environmental Learning Center

This free program is designed for children ages 5 and younger. Bring a special item from nature to share with the group, such as a rock, pinecone, leaf, or seedpod. If you find something that cannot or should not be collected, take a photo and bring it instead. Each child will have an opportunity to show their item and share what makes it interesting. Please do not bring songbird feathers, bird nests, or eggs.

Pre-registrations are needed. Use this link to sign up:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

Coffee Club

Coffee Club
9:00-10:00 am
Environmental Learning Center

Drop in and join us for fresh coffee and tasty treats on a Coffee Club day. We talk about upcoming programs, volunteer opportunities with Mahaska County Conservation, and about everything in nature.

This month, bring a cup or mug with nature on it (plants/animals) to take part in a door prize.

Registration is not needed, and we meet upstairs in the Discovery Lab.

Youth Outdoor Field Day

Save the date on your calendar for a fun morning with your family! Registration is now open. Sign up now and skip the long line on event day.

Bring the kids to Mahaska County's outdoor family event of the year! The Youth Outdoor Field Day will be held at the Russell Wildlife Area on Saturday, September 12 from 8:00 am - noon. Begin your adventure at the registration table and then walk the park trails to discover fun, hands-on outdoor and nature-related activities. Some of the activities include fishing, tree identification, Woolly Dreams StoryWalk, fossil digging, fly fishing, honeybees, kite decorating and building, and more! Kids that participate in 10 or more activities will earn an event water bottle.

Pre-registration is appreciated. Register your family by signing up online with MyCountyParks.com. However, we will accept registrations the day of the event. Cost is $5.00 per child (adults are free). Note: Online registrations and payments cannot be refunded.

Registration link: https://www.mycountyparks.com/.../Youth-Outdoor-Field-Day 

Homeschool Science Lab "Nature Photography"

Homeschool Science Lab “Nature Photography”
10:00-11:00 am
Environmental Learning Center

Homeschool students are invited to explore nature through the lens of a cell phone camera! We’ll learn simple photography tips, including how to use light and center an image. Then we’ll head outside to practice taking creative photographs of fall colors, textures, reflections, and wildlife. Please bring a cell phone that your child has permission to use.

Pre-registrations are needed. Please sign up using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events 

OWLS "A Monarch's Incredible Journey"

O.W.L.S. “A Monarch’s Incredible Journey”
1:00-2:00 pm
Environmental Learning Center

Adults of all ages are welcome to join the O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser, Livelier Souls) program. Each fall, monarch butterflies begin an incredible journey south to their wintering grounds in Mexico. Discover how these delicate butterflies travel thousands of miles, find food along the way, and know when and where to migrate. We’ll also explore the monarch life cycle and learn how milkweed and fall-blooming flowers help monarchs complete their amazing journey.

Pre-registration is appreciated. Please call (641) 673-9327, email decook@mahaskacountyia.gov, or register online using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events 

Birding With Ella "Fall Migration Watch"

Birding With Ella “Fall Migration Watch”
8:00-9:00 pm
Maskunky Marsh

Spend an evening at Maskunky Marsh watching for birds traveling along their fall migration routes. This wetland is a popular stopover where migrating birds can rest and refuel. We’ll help identify the birds we see and learn about their seasonal journeys. Bring binoculars if you have them; a limited number will be available to borrow.

Pease sign up using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

Coffee Club

Coffee Club
9:00-10:00 am
Environmental Learning Center

Drop in and join us for fresh coffee and tasty treats on a Coffee Club day. We talk about upcoming programs, volunteer opportunities with Mahaska County Conservation, and about everything in nature.

This month, bring a coffee cup or mug that has Halloween or fall decorations on it to take part in a door prize.

Registration is not needed, and we meet upstairs in the Discovery Lab. 

Knee-High Naturalists "Spider Web Building"

Knee-High Naturalists “Spider Web Building”
10:00-11:00 am
Environmental Learning Center

Get ready for some web-slinging fun! Children ages 5 and younger will discover different kinds of spider webs and learn how webs help spiders catch food, stay safe, and protect their eggs. Then each child can become a web slinger and build a spider web of their own!

Pre-registrations are needed. Please sign up using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

Campfire & Creatures

Campfire & Creatures
7:00-8:00 pm
Eveland Access Campground

Gather around the campfire for an evening of stories, discovery, and nighttime wildlife! Meet some of Iowa’s nocturnal animals through pelts, skulls, sounds, and other hands-on items. Learn how owls, bats, raccoons, and other creatures use special adaptations to thrive after dark. This cozy, family-friendly program is fun for all ages. We suggest bringing a lawnchair or blanket to sit on.

Registrations are NOT needed. Parking available in campground parking lot. Look for a sign to direct you to a campsite. 

Homeschool Science Lab "Bat Science"

Homeschool Science Lab “Bat Science”
10:00-11:00 am
Environmental Learning Center

Homeschool students are invited to discover the fascinating science of bats! Come learn about some of the bat species found in Iowa, how bats benefit people and the environment, and explore how they use echolocation to find food in the dark. Students will also investigate the special adaptations that make bats the only mammals capable of true flight.

Pre-registration is needed. Please sign up using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

Halloween Bash

Halloween Bash
1:00-9:00 pm
Eveland Access Campground

Join us for a favorite fall tradition! Enjoy an afternoon at the campground filled with carnival games, BINGO, contests, and not-so-spooky storytelling. Don’t miss the dog costume parade and campground-wide trick-or-treating! Don't forget to bring a decorated pumpkin for the pumpkin contest. This contest is for all ages.

Campers are encouraged to decorate their sites for both trick-or-treaters and the nighttime auto tour. Prizes will be awarded for the best-decorated campsites on both the east and west sides. Campsites fill up fast, so be sure to plan ahead! There will be plenty of parking for all visitors.

Schedule for the day:
1-3 pm Carnival games
1-2 pm BARK Ranger Fun (Dog Costume Parade-bring your dog!)
2 pm Decorated Pumpkin Contest(bring your decorated pumpkin)
2:30 pm Halloween BINGO
3:30 pm  Not-So Spooky Stories with Mrs. Fox
4:00 pm Countdown for Trick-or Treating in shelter house
4-5:30 pm Trick-or-Treating from campsite to campsite
(SUPPER BREAK)
7-9 pm Lights & Sights Auto Campsite Tour through campground to vote for favorite decorated campsite. Line begins next to shelter house and $5 suggested/free-will donations are appreciated for campground improvements. Candy is given away at the end of the auto tour!

BARK Ranger Costume Parade (at Halloween Bash)

B.A.R.K. Ranger Costume Parade
at Halloween Bash
October 24, 2026
1:00-2:00 pm
Eveland Access Campground

This event was so fun last year, we are doing it again!

Bring your dog and their costume to show off on a costume parade around the east side of the campground. Some of the campers hand out dog treats as we walk the route! At the shelter house, your dog can have fun bobbing for hotdogs and getting their paws stamped on a special BARK Ranger certificate.

BARK Ranger dog tags will be available to purchase $10 each. No registration is needed - just show up at the event! All dogs must be on a leash. 

Halloween Lights & Sights Auto Tour (at Halloween Bash)

Bring your family and friends for a nighttime drive through the campground to see campsites decorated for Halloween! Enjoy the lights, creative displays, and smell of campfires as campground residents compete for the best-decorated campsite.

Pick up a ballot at the start of the route near the shelter house, follow the designated route, and vote for your favorite campsite at the end. After turning in your ballot, you’ll receive a sweet treat!

A $5 suggested donation or free-will offering will be collected to support future campground improvement projects. Join us for this fun way to celebrate Halloween and the fall season!

OWLS "Behind the Badge: Meet the Park Rangers"

O.W.L.S. “Behind the Badge: Meet the Park Rangers”
12:00-1:00 pm
Environmental Learning Center

Adults of all ages are invited to join O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser, Livelier Souls) for an informative program about park rangers. What does it take to care for our county parks? Join Mahaska County Conservation’s park rangers for an inside look at their work. They will discuss their many responsibilities, share memorable experiences, and explain how their skills and roles have grown over the years. Come meet the people working behind the scenes to maintain, improve, and protect our parks—and bring your questions!

Pre-registration is appreciated. You can sign up using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

Trick or Treat at the Environmental Learning Center

Trick or Treating at the Environmental Learning Center
5:00-8:00 pm
Environmental Learning Center

Keep the Halloween fun going and swing by the Environmental Learning Center for more treats and spooky surprises! Show off your costumes, collect candy, and check out the cool exhibits and live animals while you're here. Don’t forget to snap a photo at our selfie station next to the life-sized Woolly Mammoth skeleton—it’s the perfect spot for costume pics! Trick-or-treating will be available while supplies last.

Knee-High Naturalists "Feathered Friends"

Knee-High Naturalists “Feathered Friends”
10:00-11:00 am
Environmental Learning Center

Children ages 5 and younger are invited to have some fun with our feathered friends! We’ll learn about birds, what they eat, and how bird feeders help them find food. Each child will make a bird treat to take home and place in their yard. We’ll also venture outdoors to help feed the birds at the Environmental Learning Center!

Pre-registrations are needed. Please sign up using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

Coffee Club

Coffee Club
9:00-10:00 am
Environmental Learning Center

Drop in and join us for fresh coffee and tasty treats on a Coffee Club day. We talk about upcoming programs, volunteer opportunities with Mahaska County Conservation, and about everything in nature.

This month, bring a coffee cup or mug and a thankful comment to share to take part in a door prize.

Registration is not needed, and we meet upstairs in the Discovery Lab. 

Wildlife Game Night

Wildlife Game Night
6:00-7:00 pm
Environmental Learning Center

Bring the whole family for an evening of wildlife-themed fun! Test your knowledge and skills with Animal Sound Challenge, Animal Track Match-Up, Food Web Challenge, Who Am I?, and other hands-on games. Participants of all ages can play, learn, and discover fascinating facts about Iowa’s wildlife. No wildlife expertise is needed—just bring your sense of adventure!

Pre-registration is needed. Please sign up using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

Homeschool Science Lab "Wild About Turkeys"

Homeschool Science Lab “Wild About Turkeys”
10:00-11:00 am
Environmental Learning Center

Get ready to gobble up some fun facts about wild turkeys! Kids will explore the turkey life cycle, discover what turkeys eat, and learn about the different sounds they make. We’ll also uncover fascinating adaptations and surprising behaviors that help wild turkeys survive. Everyone will leave with plenty of interesting turkey facts to share!

Pre-registration is needed. Sign up using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

OWLS "Beyond the Gobble"

O.W.L.S. “Beyond the Gobble”
1:00-2:00 pm
Nature Playscape Pergola, Environmental Learning Center

Adults of all ages are welcome to join the O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser, Livelier Souls) program. Discover the fascinating life of Iowa’s wild turkeys! We’ll explore their life cycle, diet, seasonal behaviors, communication, and impressive adaptations. Learn what different turkey calls mean, how these large birds survive throughout the year, and why they are an important part of Iowa’s woodlands. You may be surprised by how much there is to learn beyond the gobble!

Pre-registration is appreciated. Please call (641) 673-9327, email decook@mahaskacountyia.gov, or register online using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

Travelling Exhibit "Your Friendly Neighborhood: Explore Your Local Wildlife Wherever You May Be!"

Travelling Exhibit: “Your Friendly Neighborhood: Explore Your Local Wildlife Wherever You May Be!
View during regular building hours/December 4-31
Environmental Learning Center, Lower Level

You don’t have to travel far to discover wildlife—it’s all around you! This colorful, family-friendly exhibit introduces some of the animals that share our cities, farms, neighborhoods, and parks. Stop by, learn something new, and get inspired to head outside and explore nature in your own friendly neighborhood!

Parking is available on the front and back side of the ELC.  Please enter the front door of the building.  Stairs and elevator are accessible to go downstairs.

Coffee Club

Coffee Club
9:00-10:00 am
Environmental Learning Center

Drop in and join us for fresh coffee and tasty treats on a Coffee Club day. We talk about upcoming programs, volunteer opportunities with Mahaska County Conservation, and about everything in nature.

This month, bring a coffee cup or mug that has Christmas decorations on it to take part in a door prize.

Registration is not needed, and we meet upstairs in the Discovery Lab. 

Knee-High Naturalists "Nature's Mitten"

Knee-High Naturalists “Nature’s Mitten”
10:00-11:00 am
Environmental Learning Center

This free program is designed for children ages 5 and younger. This month, children are invited to enjoy The Mitten by Jan Brett and discover how animals use shelters to stay safe and warm during winter. After the story, we’ll have fun with a mitten-themed activity, and each child will create a special craft to take home!

Pre-registration is needed. You can sign up with this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events 

Sustainable Gift Wrapping & Decorating Workshop

Sustainable Gift Wrapping & Decorating Workshop
6:00-7:00 pm
Environmental Learning Center

Discover fun and simple ways to wrap and decorate your holiday presents while reducing waste. Learn how everyday materials—such as newspaper, reusable ribbon, pinecones, and other items from nature—can turn a gift into a charming creation. Come ready to be inspired and enjoy a festive evening of creativity, hot cocoa, and holiday treats!

Please sign up using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

Homeschool Science Lab "Make A T-shirt Tote Bag"

Homeschool Science Lab “Make a T-shirt Tote Bag”
10:00-11:00 am
Russell Wildlife Area

Turn an old t-shirt into something useful! Kids will cut and design a T-shirt to create a reusable no-sew tote bag for carrying books, toys, or anything else they choose. Please bring a T-shirt that can be cut and transformed. This is a fun way to give an unused item from home a brand-new purpose! Space is limited, so sign up soon.

Pre-registration is needed. Use this link to sign up:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

OWLS "Christmas Cookie Decorating"

O.W.L.S. “Christmas Cookie Decorating”
11:00 am-12:00 pm
Environmental Learning Center

Adults of all ages are welcome to join the O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser, Livelier Souls) program for a festive afternoon of holiday cookie decorating. We had so much fun doing this last year, we are doing it again! Bring a friend and enjoy a cozy, creative time decorating homemade sugar cookies. We’ll have coffee, hot chocolate, plenty of cookies to sample, and lots of holiday cheer!

Pre-registration is needed to reserve a seat. Please call (641) 673-9327, email decook@mahaskacountyia.gov, or register online using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events

Birding With Ella "Mahaska Christmas Bird Count"

Birding With Ella “Mahaska Christmas Bird Count”
6:00 am - 12:00 pm
Locations Vary - Directions in Registration Link!

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC), run by Audubon, is the nation's longest-running community science project. People around the country organize local counts between December 14-January 5 each year.

This year will be a trial run for the Mahaska County CBC. Participants will be assigned a sector of the anticipated 15 square mile circle to cover. The time is a guideline; participants are welcome to conduct their count at any time throughout the day. This program is open for all ages and skill levels; we will pair beginner birders with those who are more experienced. Since this is a trial run year, we will not be submitting the data collected to Audubon. We will still compile results to send to participants and post on social media.

We will meet at the Environmental Learning Center at noon to go over the morning's findings and to gather feedback for making this an official count in the future. Hot drinks and treats will be provided! For more information on the Christmas Bird Count, visit the Audubon CBC page.

Please sign up using this link:
https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Mahaska/Events